Bill Rufty, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bill RuftyMay 15, 2018

Former Circuit Judge Robert Doyel, a Winter Haven Democrat and candidate for Senate District 22, is receiving what no other Polk County Democrat has received in more than two decades: support from his state party. No Democrat from Polk County — the historic home of three Democratic governors and four U.S. Senators along with one […]

Bill RuftyMay 14, 2018

Two of the heaviest-monied Republican candidates for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture are heading for a busy week. Former state Rep. Baxter Troutman of Winter Haven plans to be in the Panhandle for the next two weeks beginning Monday with a visit to Fort Walton Beach. State Sen. Denise Grimsley of Sebring also starts the week […]

Bill RuftyMay 4, 2018

Accusing the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee of meddling in the 15th Congressional District Primary, Gregg Pilkington of Indian Lake Estates said he is discontinuing his race for the seat. “It would be against my principles to continue, knowing that this is a rigged (primary) election by the DCCC,” Pilkington said. He added that he wouldn’t […]

Bill RuftyMay 4, 2018

Lakeland attorney Kristen Carlson has entered the Democratic primary for Florida’s 15th Congressional District. Carlson, 64, is a former General Counsel for the Florida Department of Citrus and still counsel of record for the Florida Citrus Processors Association and District 1 of the Florida Department of Transportation. She is a partner with the firm of […]

Bill RuftyMay 4, 2018

Undocumented aliens brought to the United States when they were children should not be deported, but given education and employment opportunities and a way to earn their citizenship, according to U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, a Lakeland Republican often criticized by opponents for his deep conservative stances. He made the pronouncement during questions Thursday at the Polk […]

Bill RuftyMay 2, 2018

A ‘blue wave’ Democrats in Polk and Osceola counties had hoped for Tuesday barely made a ripple as Republican newcomer Josie Tomkow won over Democrat Ricky Shirah with a 60 percent victory in the special election for Florida House District 39. The results contrasted with the surprise February election victory in Sarasota County in which […]

Bill RuftyApril 30, 2018

While the hapless state Democratic Party has done almost nothing for the underdog campaign of Ricky Shira of Lakeland in preparation for Tuesday’s special election to fill a vacancy in Florida House District 39, local grassroots organizations did. At the last minute, Shira received $280 in in-kind services from the state. But the county party, […]

Bill RuftyApril 26, 2018

Voters in Florida House District 39 will go to the polls May 1 to fill a vacancy which has existed since Nov. 24 when then-Rep. Neil Combee, a Polk City Republican, resigned to accept a presidential appointment to a U.S. Agriculture Department agency in Gainesville. But the winner will not sit in the House, because […]

Bill RuftyApril 20, 2018

Public-school teachers should not have to pay federal income taxes, a Democratic candidate for Florida’s 15th Congressional District declared Thursday. “It will be the Rewarding American Educators Act, and I will file it when I get to Congress,” said Gregory Pilkington of Indian Lakes Estate. “It will attract new teachers and keep those who then will […]

Bill RuftyApril 18, 2018

Most candidates in (or soon to be in) the Democratic primary for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, left open by the retirement of Lakeland Republican Dennis Ross, will likely agree on many issues, especially over safety nets. But there will be a crucial difference, said Andrew Learned, a Valrico Democrat seeking the office. “Veterans and the military […]

Bill Rufty
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Polk Democrat Robert Doyel gets the unthinkable: party support

Agriculture Commission candidates face busy week

Democrat Gregg Pilkington drops out of CD 15 race, blames ‘rigged primary’

Another Democrat lines up for CD 15 race

DREAMers should earn citizenship, Dennis Ross tells Polk Tiger Bay

In HD 39, the ‘blue wave’ barely causes a ripple

Polk grassroots Democrats pick up the slack in HD 39

The strange election of House District 39

CD 15 Democratic hopeful puts focus on fixing public education

Democrats will still campaign against a departing Dennis Ross